Interests:I have a certificate in plant-based nutrition through eCornell and the T. Colin Campbell Foundation. I am very interested in nutrition and am a big believer in a mostly plant-based diet. I look forward to increasing my knowledge further as time goes by! :)

An EASY, TASTY way to eat your greens! ~ Leafy greens combined with fruit might become your new best friends!~

Joel Fuhrman, M.D., one of the country's top experts on natural healing and nutrition, and who has appeared on shows including CNN, Today, ABC and many more, is a big promoter of green smoothies, as they are packed with nutrition, and he advises lots of leafy greens for those prone to acne! Click here: Food For Thought: Green Smoothies

I. WHAT ARE GREEN SMOOTHIES?Green smoothies are basically leafy greens mixed with fruit smoothies, and the great part is that because you'll be mixing the greens with fruit, the fruit covers up the taste of the greens! (If you don't like fruit, please see the recipes for the veggie based smoothies and soups below). This is one of the quickest, easiest, tastiest, most nutritious ways out there to get in your daily leafy greens and fruits!

II. WHY ARE GREEN SMOOTHIES FABULOUS?After consuming green smoothies on a daily basis for about 6 weeks, by making quick and easy "green smoothies," I noticed a huge difference in my skin. My skin doesn't break out like it used to, and it took on a healthier color as well.

If you're suffering with acne, there's a very good chance that the smoothies will greatly help due to their high carotenoid content. You'll be getting tons of nutrition (blended greens give you 4 TIMES the amount of nutrition compared to eating them, because the blender is able to more thoroughly break down the cell walls in order to release nutrients. So, drinking 1 cup of blended greens is like eating "FOUR" cups of greens!!), you may notice your appetite going down (because your body will be getting so much nutrition), you may find that you feel calmer and happier (greens are great for this), have more energy (the most common reaction I hear about) and a host of many more health benefits! Click here: Green Smoothie (Original) by Sergei Boutenko.

III. TIPS TO KEEP IN MINDFrozen fruit is great for a flavor kick - especially frozen pineapple and mango, and often, you can find certain frozen fruits, like strawberries, raspberries, etc., cheaper than fresh. Whole Foods has a wonderful selection. For simplicity, I recommend pre-washed greens. Baby spinach is mild in flavor and great to start with, but be sure to eventually use a variety of greens!. For flavoring, cinnamon, honey, stevia, blueberry concentrate, etc. are all options. Fat can help with nutrient absorption, so you might want to consider adding in a small amount of nuts or seeds, or 1 tbs of ground flax seeds.

You can disguise the green color of your smoothies by using dark colored fruits like blueberries, raspberries, etc.

If you don't like the noise of your blender (or if it's over 90 decibels), you can use earplugs, ear protection from Hope Depot, or just figure out some way to cover your ears. We DO want to protect our hearing!

To jump-start the benefits, I recommend using 2 handfuls of greens a day in your smoothie, until you see improvements. You can then do just one handful a day if you like. Please keep in mind that it's very important to get at least a few servings of your greens every week from hormone balancing cruciferous greens, like kale, collards, bok choy, etc., otherwise, you may not see the results you hope for. If you have a juicer, drinking juiced greens will give you even more nutrients than blended greens, so do those as well, but it's also a good idea to do the smoothies for added fiber.

Please give the smoothies at least a 12 week try. If you are not improving, do see the diet tips below.

Also, make sure you're getting plenty of sleep, sunshine (or supplementing with vitamin D3 - very important), de-stressing, and make sure you're using a well-formulated, non skin-irritating line of skin-care products. Check out your skin care line here: Skin-Care Reviews, and check out the ingredients here: Ingredients. You can also have a look at my basic skin-care thread: Skin-Care Made Simple

IV. DIET TIPS FOR ACNEFor best results, consider eating at least a 90% healthy diet by cutting out things like sugar, hydrogenated oils (trans fats), processed foods, eating less animal products, etc. Focus more on eating vegetables, fruit, leafy greens, nuts/seeds, beans/legumes, and whole grains. For those with acne, Dr. Fuhrman recommends doing green smoothies, 2-4 oz. of freshly juiced greens a day mixed with a sweeter juice like carrots, and eating a daily bowl of green based soup (see recipes below). In 2-3 months, your should make great improvements with your hormones. Basically, become obsessed with leafy greens for a while! See Dr. Fuhrman's Library, and his article Preventing Acne with Diet for advice on a healthy diet. Also, www.goveg.com has lots of good information on vegetarianism/veganism for those interested.

It's vital to up your carotenoid content if you have acne. Click here: Carotenoids. This can easily be done with green smoothies, green juices, and cruciferous based soups (see recipes below). If you have acne, be sure to keep in mind the following: Be sure to use lots of cruciferous greens (mentioned above), limit fruit to 4-5 pieces a day (don't eat all 4 pieces at once though, and choose (click here-->) low-glycemic foods, so you might want to opt for low-sugar fruits, like green apples, even though the leafy greens do help to balance out the fruit sugar), avoid all dried fruit, fruit juices, and dairy. Limit nuts and seeds to no more than two ounces with one meal, and opt for more seeds over nuts (if you're a plant-based eater and are worried about weight loss from eating less nuts/seeds, add in more beans and starchy (but low-glycemic) vegetables, like yams and squash.). Exercise (enough to sweat), avoid alcohol, don't overeat, and don't smoke. If you would like help incorporating more nutrient-rich plant foods into your diet, please send me a PM.

If after a few months you are not improving, you might consider other factors such as food allergies/sensitivities, liver function, digestion, etc. These topics can get quite complicated, but if you'd like to dive in, Alternativista has put together a helpful compilation of topics at her Good Things For Acne thread. In many cases, the wonderful simplicity a plant-based, nutrient-rich diet alone is enough to clear up health issues, and I advise trying diet first, but we are all different, and it's worth being open-minded to these things.

Throw in 1 large handful of greens (romaine, spinach, kale, chard, etc.) Note: If using a green like kale, with tough stems, consider de-stemming it, as the stems can be very fibrous and a bit like cardboard!

Immediately rinse out the blender with water (or blend with hot, soapy water, then rinse), and let it air dry.

You're done! Enjoy your smoothie.

Note: If you're new to smoothies, be sure to use plenty of fruit (sweet tasting fruits like apples, pears, bananas, pineapple, and mango) unless your acne is severe, in which case chose lower sugar (low-glycemic) fruits, like green apples or pears, only 1-2 servings of fruit, and see diet tips section above) and only use a small handful of greens (preferably baby spinach, as it has a mild flavor). If acne is moderate/severe, work your way up to at least 2 large handfuls of greens a day. If your first smoothie isn't a hit, be sure to experiment with different fruit and leafy green combos until you come up with something you like!! Also, for the most benefit, please be sure to get in several servings a week of blended cruciferous leafy greens like spinach, kale, collards, bok choy, etc, as these will have the most powerful effect for clearing your skin.

Tip: Smoothies can be stored in the fridge for up to 24-48 hrs, allowing you to make your smoothies every other day or third day if this better fits your schedule. Nutrition wise, fresh is always best, but you will still get enough nutrition to reap the benefits... I know this from experience, as for quite a while, I used to make mine every other day.

Be sure to eat a variety of greens!! This is very important, because not all greens are alike, and they must be balanced! Also, some of you were getting confused about leafy greens being vegetables, like broccoli. Basically, if it's not a leaf, then it's not a leafy green.

½ bunch parsley (gives a wonderful *fresh* taste to the smoothie!)1 handful spinach½ cucumber2-3 stalks of celery1 or 2 pieces of fruit (an apple or a pear)1 lemon (peel, cut in half, discard large seeds, add to blender)2-3 cups waterBlendNote: It's important to add at least one fruit and the lemon, otherwise, the smoothie may taste a little bitter. However, with these ingredients added in, it tastes very refreshing! Feel free to experiment with different veggies!

Although not a smoothie, this is another great way to get "blended greens" into your diet. Simply blend some greens up with water, veggie or chicken broth, a can of diced tomatoes, carrot juice, etc, and pour this into a pot as your soup base. I learned about blended greens in soups from Dr. Joel Fuhrman's book, Eat to Live, my favorite book on nutrition).

Instructions: Blend the frozen greens and broth until thoroughly pureed (if you do not have a high powered blender, you may need to cook the veggies first in the broth in order to soften them, and then cradle the veggies and broth into the blender). Pour mixture into a big pot. Add frozen mixed veggies to the and any extras. Cook on low heat until everything is cooked. If mixture gets too thick, you might need to add a cup or two of water or broth. You can store this in the fridge and simply re-heat throughout the week (a great *fast* food!). Total Prep Time: Less than 20 minutes.

Note: You can vary up the ingredients in this soup to make all sorts of combinations. For example, instead of the chicken broth, you could use tomato juice, and then add some diced tomatoes, cilantro, pinto beans instead of the lentils, and add seasonings such as chili powder, cumin, onions, garlic and lemon juice for a great chili soup. You could also add things like pumpkin puree or butternut squash puree and use different veggies with the liquid soup base. I like using frozen because it's quick and easy. Nuts, like almonds, can be blended with the soup base. Walnuts pulsed on low will give a meat texture to the soup and is really great in chili type soups.

* Lifestyle: Plenty of sleep, sweat-inducing exercise, sunshine, time each day to relax and de-stress, focusing on love, compassion and thankfulness, and keeping a clean, organized environment and life, helps to more easily maintain a healthy, happy life.

* Faith: If you're open to religion, having faith greatly helps with well-being and health. My faith is in Jesus Christ. I had to do much research regarding this decision, but it was worth it! It gives my life meaning, peace, and especially joy. If you have questions, PM me!

Fresh vegi juicing is brill. I take cucumber and ginger, I like the kick of a few ginger roots which help digestion and pures the blood. Nice post - good to hear some results with changing diet and acne.

My only wish to breed I explode into a million seeds...

I found my fiancee on the org.

A Star that I will always serve, protect and love. I found her in the darkness and together we made light from our shadows.

This is an important componente of the dietary regime I'm followingDr. Fuhrman calls them "blended salads" and the first one to introduce them has been Dr. Gian Cursio almost 90 years ago. Dr. Fuhrman itself, almost 50, has a great skin and so his patients and he says that althought the whole diet (which is based on securing the highest intake of nutritive elements and don't worry about macronutrient ratios) help the blended salads are what makes the trick

Interests:I have a certificate in plant-based nutrition through eCornell and the T. Colin Campbell Foundation. I am very interested in nutrition and am a big believer in a mostly plant-based diet. I look forward to increasing my knowledge further as time goes by! :)

* Lifestyle: Plenty of sleep, sweat-inducing exercise, sunshine, time each day to relax and de-stress, focusing on love, compassion and thankfulness, and keeping a clean, organized environment and life, helps to more easily maintain a healthy, happy life.

* Faith: If you're open to religion, having faith greatly helps with well-being and health. My faith is in Jesus Christ. I had to do much research regarding this decision, but it was worth it! It gives my life meaning, peace, and especially joy. If you have questions, PM me!

I learned that our jaws and teeth can't chew our food completely anymore because of our modern lifestyle. That's why drinking the greens is good. Juicing doesn't give you fiber so it's best to have the whole greens blended.

These are really good. My mom used to make these for people we they got sick, except she added avocado which makes for a creamier shake.

Currently clear from paleo diet. Fruits, nuts, vegetables, high fat dairy, meats and seafood. Small amounts of coffee and bitter chocolate. Lots of water and green, white and black teas. Paramount are the avoidance of REFINED SUGAR and ALL GRAINS. Skin is much nicer with a high fat intake as well.

Interests:I am here to find a cure for acne. I am not interested in the modern medicine's approach to acne, by covering up symptoms, instead of removing the root problem. I like to share my knowledge of what works and doesn't, at least for me. I love it when people share their knowledge with me too ^_^.<br />http://paleosophy.blogspot.com/

Interests:I have a certificate in plant-based nutrition through eCornell and the T. Colin Campbell Foundation. I am very interested in nutrition and am a big believer in a mostly plant-based diet. I look forward to increasing my knowledge further as time goes by! :)

What? are you 100% clear? I cant have this, I have "damp heat" in my body

I have a LOT of respect for Chinese Medicine, but I wouldn't let anyone tell me I couldn't have fruits and vegetables. They are our number one source for nutrition and antioxidants - our best bet against cancer! Maybe if you did some fats with your smoothies, like sunflower seeds, it would be better? If not, I'd try to find cooked foods that are high in Vitamin A. Check www.whfoods.com to see what foods are high in vitamin A. You could cook foods like spinach, kale, carrots, sweet pototoes, etc. Just don't start taking "synthetic" vitamin A, as it can be very harmful. You definitely want to stick to food sources.

I wouldn't say I'm "100%" clear all the time, but any blemishes that come up are much smaller and go away quicker. For the most part though, my skin is clear, and it looks really healthy too. For a while I was getting blemishes that were leaving behind mild scars - thank goodness a friend told me about green smoothies before I got more scars. I had mild acne on my forehead too, and that cleared up as well. If I get lazy and go a few days without the smoothies, I'll start to slowly break out again. However, as long as I do the smoothies, my skin stays clear most of the time!

"...whatsoever things are true... honest... just... pure... lovely... or of good report;

if there be any virtue, and if there be any praise, think on these things."

* Lifestyle: Plenty of sleep, sweat-inducing exercise, sunshine, time each day to relax and de-stress, focusing on love, compassion and thankfulness, and keeping a clean, organized environment and life, helps to more easily maintain a healthy, happy life.

* Faith: If you're open to religion, having faith greatly helps with well-being and health. My faith is in Jesus Christ. I had to do much research regarding this decision, but it was worth it! It gives my life meaning, peace, and especially joy. If you have questions, PM me!

Interests:I am here to find a cure for acne. I am not interested in the modern medicine's approach to acne, by covering up symptoms, instead of removing the root problem. I like to share my knowledge of what works and doesn't, at least for me. I love it when people share their knowledge with me too ^_^.<br />http://paleosophy.blogspot.com/

Interests:I have a certificate in plant-based nutrition through eCornell and the T. Colin Campbell Foundation. I am very interested in nutrition and am a big believer in a mostly plant-based diet. I look forward to increasing my knowledge further as time goes by! :)

That was just what I needed because I've thought for awhile that I needed more nutrients to combat against acne.

Awesome! I hope you start seeing improvement in your skin! Just give it a few weeks. When I first started the smoothies, I hoped clear skin would be a "miraculous side benefit" - I had no idea they were actually going to clear up my skin - I was thrilled!

"...whatsoever things are true... honest... just... pure... lovely... or of good report;

if there be any virtue, and if there be any praise, think on these things."

* Lifestyle: Plenty of sleep, sweat-inducing exercise, sunshine, time each day to relax and de-stress, focusing on love, compassion and thankfulness, and keeping a clean, organized environment and life, helps to more easily maintain a healthy, happy life.

* Faith: If you're open to religion, having faith greatly helps with well-being and health. My faith is in Jesus Christ. I had to do much research regarding this decision, but it was worth it! It gives my life meaning, peace, and especially joy. If you have questions, PM me!

so by green veggies you mean lettuce? I thought lettuce had no nutrition in it, or at least I assumed that . When you make the smoothies do you just use lettuce or do you mix in other leafy vegetables too? Would just using something like iceberg lettuce be ok?

Interests:I have a certificate in plant-based nutrition through eCornell and the T. Colin Campbell Foundation. I am very interested in nutrition and am a big believer in a mostly plant-based diet. I look forward to increasing my knowledge further as time goes by! :)

so by green veggies you mean lettuce? I thought lettuce had no nutrition in it, or at least I assumed that . When you make the smoothies do you just use lettuce or do you mix in other leafy vegetables too? Would just using something like iceberg lettuce be ok?

Yeah, the five - ten minutes it takes every day to make the smoothies can be a real problem for people. hehe It just depends on how badly you want clear skin. To me, 10 minutes every day is a small, small price to pay for having clear skin and preventing new scars.

QUOTE(loveuforever57 @ Aug 6 2006, 09:47 AM)

It's just pretty noisy.

Yes, it is!!! Anything over 90 decibels can damage hearing. If your blender is noisy, just cover your ears, or, a very simple, easy solution is to go to Home Depot to the safety department that has things like ear protection muffs. For about $10-15, you can get ear protection. They look like giant headphones, haha. Before you blend, just stick them on - easy! I get laughed at for it, but hey, my ears will thank me down the road!

"...whatsoever things are true... honest... just... pure... lovely... or of good report;

if there be any virtue, and if there be any praise, think on these things."

* Lifestyle: Plenty of sleep, sweat-inducing exercise, sunshine, time each day to relax and de-stress, focusing on love, compassion and thankfulness, and keeping a clean, organized environment and life, helps to more easily maintain a healthy, happy life.

* Faith: If you're open to religion, having faith greatly helps with well-being and health. My faith is in Jesus Christ. I had to do much research regarding this decision, but it was worth it! It gives my life meaning, peace, and especially joy. If you have questions, PM me!

My fist blenders/juice extractors were very noisy. However my slow roating juice is not loud, it tends to grind the crap out of the veg/fruit more than slice it into parts. Tho i paid crap loads for it compared to the √ā¬£100 I spent on my first bunch.

My only wish to breed I explode into a million seeds...

I found my fiancee on the org.

A Star that I will always serve, protect and love. I found her in the darkness and together we made light from our shadows.